Current status of Officers
Laura Gromis – Chair
Sean Zweifler – Vice Chair
Gabriel Lozano – Secretary
Current status of Members
District 1 - Sean Zweifler (first term) expires Nov 1, 2024 District 2 - Matthew Woodward (first term) - expires December 10, 2023 District 3 – Julie Congi (first term) – expires March 30, 2026 District 4 – Laura Gromis (first term) – expires April 07, 2024 District 5 - Gabriel Lozano (first term) – expires August 11, 2025 District 6 - Steven Bradley (second term) - expires February 9, 2026 District 7 – Bryan Bird (first term) – expires February 9, 2026 Mayoral Appointment - Phil Arballo - second term - expires April 05, 2024 Current Statistics of Pedestrian and Bicycle Fatalities Within the City of Fresno Limits:
2018 Total Collisions: 3,208
Pedestrians - 213 (25 deaths)
Bicyclists - 117 (5 deaths)
2019 Total Collisions: 3,095
Pedestrians - 180 (20 deaths)
Bicyclists - 89 (3 deaths)
2020 Total Collisions: 3,273
Pedestrians - 172 (29 deaths)
Bicyclists - 73 (6 deaths)
2021 Total Collisions: 3,807
Pedestrians - 204 (22 deaths)
Bicyclists - 84 (3 deaths)
2022 Total Collisions: 3,976
Pedestrian – 212 (23 deaths) Bicyclists – 99 (7 deaths) 1/1/2023 – 4/30/2023
Total Collisions: 1,301
Pedestrian – 96
Bicycle – 32
Fatal Numbers Year to Date:
Pedestrian: 9
Bicycle: 1
Task Force Committees and Updates on Active Committees in Place November 2022 – Discussion regarding a task force for the bike summit. Board President from California Walks (Cal Walks), J . Martinez announced his term would be ending December of 2022 and encouraged members and public to serve as a board member of Cal Walks. J. Martinez also announced that he would be representing one of ten families across the nation to participate in a discussion with Secretary Pete Buttigieg – the discussion to focus on safety on roads, streets, and speed. Fresno County Bicycle Coalition, President, Tony Molina thanked everyone for their participation in Fresno’s first World Day of Remembrance event held in October. N . Yovino presented an update on discussions for the Bike Summit. N. Yovino requested involvement from the BPAC. BPAC, member, M. Woodward also provided an update for the World Day of Remembrance event held in October with lessons learned and items to improve for next year’s event.
BPAC, member, S. Zweifler announced a new stop sign and crosswalk in District 1, on Van Ness. Se an also raised concerns about limited bike rack space on FAX buses.
Member, M. Woodward stated that he and BPAC should provide reports to Public Works going over sharrows and active transportation projects. BPAC, member, L. Gromis also included that the World Day of Remembrance was a successful event. L. Gromis encouraged Public Works to reach out to the community more when it comes to Class IV separated bikeways. BPAC, member, G / Lozano provided an update regarding the Fancher Creek Trail Plan. BPAC, Chair, P. Arballo advised that he and S. Zweifler would be participating in the Kit -of-Parts tactical urbanism pop- up event in Southwest Fresno with California Walks. BPAC nominations, took place. ATP Coordinator, C . Gonzalez provided a grants update announcing that the City of Fresno did not receive funding for ATP Cycle 6 state applications submitted by Public Works. C .Gonzalez also announced Public Works grant application submission to SS4A for a Vision Zero Action Plan.
December 2022 – No meeting. Final meeting for 2022, was held in November.
January 2023 – A moment of silence was held in honor of Melanie Ruvalcaba, Mayoral Appointment, Vice- Chair. No public comments were made during public unscheduled communication. City staff project manager A. Gonzalez presented an update and was present for any questions regarding the Blackstone/McKinley Grade Separation project.
J. Gormley advised that grants are being applied for, also mentioned funding to design 30 percent of the Smart Mobility theme south of Blackstone/McKinley project. Discussion regarding the semi-annual report, Bike Safety Awards, and Bike Month took place. BPAC, member, M. Woodward announced that the new ADA Coordinator reached out to him to present a summary of BPAC’s mission statement and how it is accomplished. Discussion to put together a formal presentation to include BPAC’s PSAs was discussed. BPAC, member, S. Zweifler proposed a resolution for city vehicle purchases to have a policy put in place to promot e and consider improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Public comment by T. Molina to promote a policy of purchasing cars to align with Vision Zero – safe roads, safe vehicles, and safe drivers. BPAC, member, L. Gromis provided an update on the bike summit with the City of Munster, Germany. L. Gromis advised that the Fresno State Transportation Institute was taking the lead on the project and working on content and schedule for the summit. Laura also announced that the date for the Bike Summit would be October 13
th of 2023. BPAC, member, S . Bradley announced that he was approved for his second term. BPAC, Chair, P. Arballo provided an update from the Kit of Parts event held in Southwest Fresno with California Walks (Cal Walks). P . Arballo also asked that portions of Midtown Trail be named in honor of Melanie Ruvalcaba and advised that the mayor agreed. Votes were made for BPAC, with new Secretary to be G. Lozano, S. Zweifler to be Vice Chair, and a tie between P . Arballo and L. Gromis for Chair. City staff provided grants updates and advised that the Fresno PD would be present at BPAC meetings twice a year for updates. J. Gormley provided a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) update and discussion to reduce the numbers of pedestrian fatalities and asked BPAC for some suggestions. Jill also went over the focus on schools to improve safe routes for parents and students and went over the different safety measures that can be implemented. The Brown Act, and AB 2449 updates were also discussed.
February 2023 – BPAC, Chair, P. Arballo withdrew his name to be chair and the vote went to L. Gromis of District 4 . B. Bird was introduced as the newest member of the BPAC representing District 7. Public commentary included J. Liu of the Fresno County Bicycle Coalition (FCBC). J. Liu advised that the coalition is working with the Southern Sierra Cyclist to bring a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) Seminar for bicycle education. Public commentary also included E . Obwald with concerns regardi ng traffic on Hidalgo right turns into the crosswalks. BPAC, member G. Lozano advised he would bring E . Obwald concern to his councilmember . Presentations included an overview of the Brow n Act presented by P . Arba llo. E. Obwald , Program Director of Safe2School presented information on their program to promote school safety , and to maintain safe crossing guard volunteers for Fresno Unified. Task Force, Event Planning Committee member, M.
Woodward provided an update to create a Bike M onth calendar to or ganize bike month activities and events . M. Woodward provided a BPAC 101 presentation. L. Gromis updated that she is working with the Fresno State Transportation Institute and sister City of Munster, Germany for the scheduled October 2023 bike summit. G . Lozano provided an update on the Fancher Creek Trail Plan and advised that he would be drafting a letter of support for District 5 to approve the plan at Council. S. Bradley announced that District 6 has witness ed Fresno PD motorcycles working Friant Road for speeding and other infractions to keep Friant Road safer. B. Bird brought up concerns regarding lack of three feet minimum signs. Officer J. Belli attended the BPAC meeting, and it was announced that PD presence will be at the monthly meetings to provide updates for the monthly traffic collision report.
March 2023 – Officer J. Belli provided the month traffic collision report and update. BPAC member, S. Zweifler thanked J. Belli for distributing bike helmets at the Poverello House.
Task force reports included M. Woodward with a summary of the Bike Task Force and ideas for May is Bike Month. M. Woodward announced that the mayor would be interested in participating on a bike to workday event. M. Woodward also provided an update for the Signage Taskforce and discussion for 3-foot clearance signs. S. Sehm requested project suggestions from the BPAC to help with public works factoring in projects for the next fiscal year’s budget. Staff reports included S. Zweifler and his concerns regarding parking in the Class IV separated bikeway located in District 1. M. Woodward announced the Audubon Corridor community meeting to be held by Public Works. G . Lozano of District 5 announced an event for Cinco De Mayo with Familia En Accion and asked for BPAC participation. City staff. S. Sehm provided an update to the Barstow Class IV project. J.
Gormley announced that the City of Fresno received regional funding for ATP Cycle 6 to install multiple HAWKs along Blackstone and received funding for the Reconnecting Communities Grant for a pedestrian over cross. Presentation from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program for PARCS to go over the programs provided for after school programs and the bike rodeos and free helmets provided to students who participate.
April 2023 – Officer J. Belli provided monthly traffic collision report and announced no pedestrian or bicycle fatalities since the March meeting. J . Belli also announced that PD will have a bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement event in May for bicy cle safety awareness month, in addition announced that May is Motorcycle Safety month and extra officers will be staffed to help with enforcement through a grant. Pres entation included Caltrans updates provided by J. Liu of District 6. The Caltrans updates included implementation of leading pedestrian intervals (LPI) a new proposed Class II bike lane on Divisadero Street and Tulare Avenue at the SR-41 interchanged and the district 6 Road Safety action Plan. The event planning taskforce provided an update for Bike Month and announced a bike ride with the mayor an d city council for May 10 th. M. Woodward also announced the community outreach meeting with public works for the River West Eaton Trail on May 10
th. Announcement of new BPAC member, J. Congi for District 3. L. Gromis provided update for the Bike Summit and announced a scheduled date of October 27, 2023. ATP Coordinator, C. Gonzalez provided update information on the new v ersion of the Bicycle Friendly Co mmunity application and advised that the city will be submitting the application by deadline of August 30, 2023, to apply for a BFC Silver Status. City staff, C. Shcholz was present to answer any questions regarding the Merced Reconnection project.
BPAC Goals for the next six months
Continue working on a Vision Zero Action Plan for Fresno Increase exposure of BPAC created PSAs for public safety Continue efforts towards Silver Status from the League of American Bicyclists Update and modernize the BPAC Charter
Continue advocacy for safety at our regional parks: Woodward Park and Roeding Park Create plan for upcoming events – May is Bike Month, BPAC Awards Continue supporting the City of Fresno through support letters for upcoming grant applications